The Wilmingtonian., 1887-03-12
President Cleveland DisintegratiDg
the Democratic Party.


the Democratic Party.
New York World.
What has been the effect of democratic
Administration" upon the Democratic par
~? Has the party carried out its pledges
Have its voters been satisfied with the re-
suits thus far achievedP Is the party
strengthened in consequence of the policy
pursued by the President and by the action
If CoLgressq
Taking tho elections of last year as test,
the Democrats appear TO have been weaken
d rather than strengthened. They lost
more than thirty of their majority in the
House of Representatives, and they lost the
Important States Of Indiana and Virginia.
fhe decline of party discipline and unity is
likewise marked. The senatorial election
sraugles in several States aud the divisions
within the party line in Congress are proof
i this. Indifference to party obligations in
the President has bred indifference among
the voters and the local leaders. The party
mas not, at the present time, either the uni
ted enthusiasm for leader or the harmo-
Nous devotion to policy of government
,ecessary to ensure great and determined
national canvass.
There ara obvious reasons for this state of
things. Ii the first half of the Administra-
Li'u has not been as bad as the Republicans
predicted, it has not been quite so good-in
the sense of being fruitful in results-as the
Democrats expected. The campaign of 1884
vas fought upon sharply defined issues. The
Democrats demanded ''change in policy,
10 measures aud in men. "They affirmed that
''the frauds and j1bbery in every department
If the government called for roforn. They
p tinted to "a surplus OF more than 500, 000-
200 year collected yearly from suffering
,eople" as indicating the need of change.
Aud they pledged themselves to purify the
Administration from corruption, to restore
economy, aud t. reduce axation to the low
sst limit consistent with the preservation of
| he faith of the ratiou.'
How few of these things have been done !
| No 'frauds and jobsery' have been uncov.
/ red by the Administration. though uot for
the reason, as millions Of Democrats be-
teve, that such things do not exist. If the
urplus has been reduced it has been by
quandering the revenues, not by abating
| axition.
Is it auy wonder that there is disappoint.
ment aud dissffection in the party?
the discomfort Of Labor was danger sig
nal in their last Presidential canvass 1t
early lost the Democratic party the State
+ New York and the election. The Gs 600
votes cast against the candidate of the Uni.
led Democracy in this city for Mayor last
all where but one indication among many
that the discomfort is not growing less.
What has boen done during the first half OF
the Presidents term to diminish this dan.
gerous diversion? If one plunderiug ring
had been broker, one great iniquity exposed,
one grasping corporation compelled to dea
justly with the Government, or some strong
,ction against corruption performed or earn
est word spoken to show the sympathy o.
the Administration with the common peopl,
and indicate its purpose to redeem tn,
pledges of the party, the situation would b,
= much improved.
As it is, between the inactiou of tn,
President and the Inability oft House th,
i Democratic party has gained little from ii
first two years Of power,